COPR and coronavirus

[saad_im]

Hi Hammad,

Congratulations on your successful landing. I'm excited and happy for you. If you don't mind, I have a few questions. I am also in Dubai, but my COPR expired in April, so I'm waiting for them to re-issue my COPR. I believe your COPR was still valid by the time you traveled. My question goes thus:

1. In your post, you described the length of the queue at YYZ. Roughly how many minutes/hours did the whole process take. I'm asking because when I eventually travel, I will have a connecting flight from Toronto to Winnipeg, and the cheaper flights might have connecting time might of 2 hours or even less. I just want to have an idea of what to expect, so that I can book the appropriate flight.
2. I will be traveling with my wife and two kids. I keep wondering how the flight will be for the kids. I just wanted to ask if you traveled with a child, or if you noticed other passengers with kids.
3. Did they ask for proof of funds again?
4. Did you provide a contact number that they can reach you on when in quarantine? I'm curious as to how one can get a mobile number immediately after landing. From my other travel experiences, I can only buy a sim card after passing through the immigration section.

I apologize for asking too many questions.

Thanks, and I wish you all the best.

Will you be travelling with a valid UAE visa or have you cancelled it?

 

[Kay02]

Hey guys!! Any guesses for when they'll open visa offices in India?? I have an expired COPR.

 

[Abdulgafar]

Will you be travelling with a valid UAE visa or have you cancelled it?

I have cancelled it. I'll be leaving for good.

 

[noopwanii]

Will you be travelling with a valid UAE visa or have you cancelled it?

It's valid for now; i would like to return to the UAE after 3-4 weeks of being in Canada

 

[indpnv]

Thanks for your response!

Yes, I meant return after 14 day quarantine. But as I see in your post that entry for H1B holders is banned in US which makes it impossible to retrun to US from Canada. Is this ban applicable regardless of mode of travel - air or by road?

FYI, there no ban for h1b, just some speculation.

 

[crackMBA]

I dropped an email to High Commission of Canada, New Delhi stating my inability to travel and received this as a reply from them. This may be helpful for the people here.

"
Dear Sir,

If your counterfoil expires prior to commercial flights becoming available, you do not need to email us as you will receive communication from our office on the next steps to be taken once full-service resumes.

Due to COVID-19 pandemic, the Migration Section at the High Commission of Canada in New Delhi will be limiting its operations until further notice. The Migration Sections at the Consulate in Bangalore and the Consulate in Chandigarh are closed until further notice.

For up to date information regarding IRCCs response to COVID-19 follow us on Facebook. As we are receiving numerous e-mails during this time please only email us if you CANNOT find the answer through the information and helpful links on our Facebook page.
"

 

[Sidd1988can]

I believe it will take 3 months waiting period before you can be eligible to apply for provincial health insurance. So yes, you will need insurance for the first 3 months of your stay

i guess there is no waiting of 3 months in Ontario

 

[SaraRahul]

FYI, there no ban for h1b, just some speculation.

We have planned to land on June 11... now confused on what to do ‍

 

[pumpkin_latte]

As much as possible, try to post major developments and findings here also. Thanks

 

[saad_im]

Hey everyone!

I had posted my experience in a few groups around but totally forgot to mention it here. A place that helped me out big time. I appreciate everyones input for the past year with all queries. I hope and pray we all cope with these troubling times and reach Canada real soon. I officially landed on the 1st of June. Currently halfway done with quarantine!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*long post alert*

Hey everyone!

Firstly, I’m grateful for all the support I’ve received from people on all social media platforms which had made this a very familiar process even before I boarded the aircraft.

On June 1st 2020 I took EK241 from DXB-YYZ.
I figured that it wouldn’t be a full flight and social distancing will be in place so I chose seat 42A online far away from people.

Flight departure was at 0905 AM. They had asked me to be there at least 4 hours before the flight. Now I was in a dilemma as Dubai had movement restrictions and I didn’t want to be flashed by the radar. So I ended up leaving my house after 6AM. I reached the airport at 615 AM (luckily I live in Mirdif).

Walked in to the terminal... there was thermal screening and then I was given the travel hygiene kit and a ‘coronavirus form’ which was a Canadian document.

Right before the check-in there was a document control check point. The gentlemen asked details on my PR status etc. told him I had a COPR. I noticed a lot of people sitting down... apparently I found out that was for re-verification for some work permits etc. I went straight through. Got checked in. And headed into the concourse.

Flight was great, unfortunately they had blocked the back part of the aircraft for the return flight. So I ended up not sitting in a seat I had chosen online; in fact I was so excited I didn’t even notice the seat they assigned me till I got to the gate.

Flight was smooth.

After disembarking the aircraft and walking towards to immigration ... officers were providing a more official coronavirus quarantine form. (I figured I’d do one from scratch). Moving on... it felt like the whole aircraft had COPRs. Initial immigration officer asked a few questions on what I was bringing and told me to go to another counter. There was such a long line that the immigration officers actually had to call in back up. Eventually the whole process didn’t take too long. The officer who dealt with my paperwork wasn’t very enthusiastic. Just literally asked for my address and that’s it. If you have any goods to follow... Make sure you mention it at customs upon exiting.

Now I’m here. In quarantine and hence such a long post. might even end up making a YouTube video with all the time I have now.

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions! It’s great to be here. stay safe.

Hammad

A lot of nerves will be put at ease if you can confirm if your UAE visa was still valid when you took the flight.

 

[ishangodbole]

Thanks for your response!

Yes, I meant return after 14 day quarantine. But as I see in your post that entry for H1B holders is banned in US which makes it impossible to retrun to US from Canada. Is this ban applicable regardless of mode of travel - air or by road?

That ban isn't enforced at pre-clearance locations.

 

[SaraRahul]

That ban isn't enforced at pre-clearance locations.

Meaning ?

 

[despairedh1b]

Meaning ?

Doesn't make sense - Isn't it a loophole then?

Also, what are people's thoughts of coming back on F1 in that case?

 

[ishangodbole]

Doesn't make sense - Isn't it a loophole then?

Also, what are people's thoughts of coming back on F1 in that case?

Yup. It is a loophole. I think they forgot about pre-clearance locations that are still on Canadian soil.

Here's the DHS memo https://www.dhs.gov/news/2020/03/20/joint-statement-us-canada-joint-initiative-temporary-restriction-travelers-crossing

 

[Peaceonly]

Hello all,,
What are these latest guidelines all about?? They haven’t clearers anything whether or not travel rest. Are lifted or not??